Interview: Afghanistan-China ties continue to grow based on Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence

KABUL, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The relationship between Afghanistan and China, which is unique and precious, has been growing continuously based upon the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Afghan National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta said.

During a recent interview with Xinhua, Spanta spoke highly of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which were proposed by China in 1954.

The Afghan government has always respected the principles and committed itself to safeguarding national and regional stability, he said.

He said the principles, widely supported by the international community at the Bandung Conference, have gradually become basic norms of international relations as well as cooperation.

"The Afghan government and people fully support the principles and oppose any interference in other nations' domestic affairs and any violation of other nations' sovereignty and territorial integrity," Spanta said.

The security advisor said the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence would benefit all peace-loving countries, adding that the respect for the principles is the foundation of peaceful coexistence and cooperation among nations.

"Countries, big or small, should respect other nations' sovereignty and territorial integrity," Spanta said, noting that interference in other nations' domestic affairs by force or other means would not help solve any problem.

He said the principles suggested that big countries should not put themselves above small ones and all nations' sovereign equality be respected.

"If relevant countries had followed the spirit of the principles, Afghanistan would have developed better than it is right now," he said.

Spanta, a former foreign minister of Afghanistan, said a country's relations with its neighbors are of great significance.

Afghanistan's mutually-beneficial cooperation and peaceful coexistence with neighboring nations is one of the focuses of its foreign policy, with the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs as the top priority, he added.

"Mutual respect should become the cornerstone of international law. All countries should respect UN resolutions based on sovereign equality and seek mutually-beneficial cooperation on this basis," he said.

The official expressed appreciation for China's support for Afghan people's leading role in governing the country, and agreed that the two sides should carry out equal cooperation in such fields as anti-terrorism, trade and economy.

"As friendly neighbors, the friendship between Afghanistan and China goes back to ancient times. I'm looking forward to the continuous development of bilateral ties within the framework of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," Spanta said.